1979 Lincoln Mark V

"The Lincoln Continental Mark V was a large coupe sold by Lincoln, the Ford Motor Company's luxury division, between the 1977 and 1979 model years. The Mark V was a restyled Mark IV, replacing that car's more rounded styling with a more squared-off, sharp-edged look that was the new automotive fashion. The standard engine was now the Ford 400 in³ (6.6 L) small-block engine instead of the 460 in³ (7.5 L) Ford 385 engine, but the latter was available as an option everywhere but in California in the first two years of production. The Mark V was also available in Designer Editions and Collector Series. Designer Editions included models named after influential designers of the likes of Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, and Pucci, each featuring a unique option package. All 1977-1979 Lincoln Continentals feature a Cartier clock. The Collector Series was the Lincoln flagship model in 1979, and is the most sought after 1979 Lincoln model on todays market. The Mark V was tested by Germany's car magazine ""auto motor und sport"" in 1977 and to this day (2005) holds the record as the least fuel efficient car ever tested by them, averaging no more than 7 mpg and giving only an (extrapolated) 3.5 mpg under full acceleration. For the late 1970's, the Mark V was far ahead of its time with features such as four-wheel disc brakes, a digital radio tuner, a 'Miles to Empty' read out and an automatic Hi-Beam dimmer. Lincoln, with the Mark V and Continental, held out for the giant American car longer than anyone else, but after 1979 it would not be possible. Ford came dangerously close to violating the Corporate Average Fuel Economy laws that year, and subsequent models would be substantially smaller."